Molecular imaging of hepatic stellate cell activity by visualization of hepatic integrin αvβ3 expression with SPECT in rat

Feng Li, Zhengji Song, Qinghua Li, Jian Wu, Jiyao Wang, Cao Xie, Chuantao Tu, Jian Wang, Xiaowei Huang, Weiyue Lu – 26 May 2011 – The key factors in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis are the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which express integrin αvβ3 after activation. This study aimed to explore the potential of 99mTc‐labeled cyclic arginine‐glycine‐aspartic acid pentapeptide (cRGD) as a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radiotracer to image hepatic integrin αvβ3 expression to reflect HSC activity in fibrotic livers.

Safety of liver transplantation with chagas disease–seropositive donors for seronegative recipients

Fernando Salvador, Oscar Len, Israel Molina, Elena Sulleiro, Silvia Sauleda, Itxarone Bilbao, Lluis Castells, Teresa Pont, Joan Gavaldà, Albert Pahissa – 26 May 2011 – The shortage of organs for transplantation has prompted the investigation of extended criteria donors, such as donors with transmissible infectious diseases. Here we report our recent experience with liver transplantation using organs from donors who were serologically positive for Chagas disease. We also provide a review of the literature and emphasize donor screening and preventive measures.

Effect of telaprevir on the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine and tacrolimus

Varun Garg, Rolf van Heeswijk, Jee Eun Lee, Katia Alves, Priya Nadkarni, Xia Luo – 26 May 2011 – The hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor telaprevir is an inhibitor of the enzyme cytochrome P450 3A, responsible for the metabolism of both cyclosporine and tacrolimus. This Phase I, open‐label, nonrandomized, single‐sequence study assessed the effect of telaprevir coadministration on the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of either cyclosporine or tacrolimus in two separate panels of 10 healthy volunteers each.

c‐Met represents a potential therapeutic target for personalized treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hanning You, Wei Ding, Hien Dang, Yixing Jiang, C. Bart Rountree – 26 May 2011 – c‐Met, a high‐affinity receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), plays a critical role in cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with an active HGF/c‐Met signaling pathway have a significantly worse prognosis. Although targeting the HGF/c‐Met pathway has been proposed for the treatment of multiple cancers, the effect of c‐Met inhibition in HCC remains unclear.

Impact of viral amino acid substitutions and host interleukin‐28b polymorphism on replication and susceptibility to interferon of hepatitis C virus

Nobuhiko Hiraga, Hiromi Abe, Michio Imamura, Masataka Tsuge, Shoichi Takahashi, C. Nelson Hayes, Hidenori Ochi, Chise Tateno, Katsutoshi Yoshizato, Yusuke Nakamura, Naoyuki Kamatani, Kazuaki Chayama – 26 May 2011 – Amino acid (aa) substitutions of core 70 and 91 and in the NS5A (nonstructural protein 5A) interferon sensitivity determining region (ISDR) as well as genetic polymorphisms in the host interleukin‐28B (IL28B) locus affect the outcome of interferon (IFN)‐based therapies for patients with chronic hepatitis C.

NOX1/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form (NADPH) oxidase promotes proliferation of stellate cells and aggravates liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation

Wenhao Cui, Kuniharu Matsuno, Kazumi Iwata, Masakazu Ibi, Misaki Matsumoto, Jia Zhang, Kai Zhu, Masato Katsuyama, Natalie J. Torok, Chihiro Yabe‐Nishimura – 26 May 2011

Transcriptome at the time of hepatitis C virus recurrence may predict the severity of fibrosis progression after liver transplantation

Valeria Mas, Daniel Maluf, Kellie J. Archer, Amiee Potter, Jihee Suh, Ricardo Gehrau, Valeria Descalzi, Federico Villamil – 26 May 2011 – Allograft gene expression analysis may provide insights into the mechanisms involved in liver damage during hepatitis C virus recurrence (HCVrec) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and allow the identification of patients who have a higher risk of developing severe disease. Forty‐three OLT recipients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) were evaluated.

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